CHRONIC MESENTERIC ISCHEMIA - DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS

Objectives. A description of the clinical presentation, diagnostic procedure and mode of therapy in three patients suffering from chronic mesenteric ischaemia. Design and interventions. In all cases, the diagnosis was made on the basis of abdominal complaints in combination with angiographic findings. The primary treatment objective was restoration of blood flow via a revascularization procedure, for the patient in whom this could not be accomplished an enteral feeding programme was undertaken. Results. One patient had a panmalabsorption syndrome which was treated with an aortomesenteric bypass operation, the second one presented with multiple gastric ulcerations which only improved after a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. In the third patient, neither surgery or angioplasty were feasible and a tentative enteral feeding programme was given, after which the ability to consume a normal oral diet without abdominal distress was regained. Conclusions. These three cases illustrate the diverse clinical pictures by which chronic mesenteric ischaemia may present itself. This diagnosis should be kept in mind when other more common causes of a patient's abdominal complaints cannot be found, hence giving consideration to abdominal angiography as the next diagnostic procedure. With respect to therapy, restoring blood now through surgery or angioplasty is the primary form of treatment. However, if neither of these therapeutic options is feasible, it is suggested that such patients may benefit from a nutritional training programme.